How I Made $22.50
By Reading the
Popular Science Monthly
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ON an investment of seventy-five cents I realized a profit of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents, or three thousand per cent. It was the Popular Science Monthly that paid the profit. I have been a constant reader of Popular Science for some time. Often I wondered who wrote the interesting articles which I read. One night I was in my workshop etching glass by a method described in a previous issue. The work was halted by the absolute necessity of having perfectly clean glass to work upon. Finally I hit upon alcohol and powdered chalk. The result was all I hoped for. [[File:
The number of the Popular Science Monthly containing the article on Novel Window Attractions was rented for six dollars and a half After finishing the work I sat down for a smoke, thoroughly satisfied with myself — as we all are after a job well done. Picking up the current issue of "our" magazine I prepared myself for an enjoyable evening. Suddenly I came across a small reading notice at the bottom of a page — something that I had not seen before. It read : "Ideas submitted to this department are paid for at space rates when published." That sounded good, but what could I sell? I have it! That alcohol-chalk stunt — it's good, dustless, and practical. So I sent in an article on a "Dustless Window Cleaner." It was accepted and paid for. I've written a few articles since then that paid more. While talking to a local merchant one day, he told me what he paid a Boston man for window attractions. I thought it over that night. I brought out my bunch of Popular Science Monthlies and went through the index of each for window attractions. Luck! I know what the word means now. Do any of you remember |
"Novel Window Attractions" in the January, 1915, issue, page 81? Look it up. It will pay you to do so. I rented the magazine to my friend, the local merchant, for one dollar per night, first two nights, fifty cents each night thereafter. He had it four nights. Another merchant paid me for five nights more. "Magic Mirror for Show Windows" (December, 1914, page 668) paid me in rent the same terms, five and one-half dollars. "Colored lights in Window Display" (April, 1914, page 1467) paid me in rent from a florist, two nights, four dollars. The most prominent dye house in town paid me a dollar for "A Facetious Dyer's Sign" (September, 1914, page 238). I made up about a pint of "Acid Ink Eraser" (July, 1915, page 89), and sold five two-ounce bottles at twenty-five cents a bottle. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Popular Science Monthly, the editors and contributors. I have itemized what I have made. Study the figures; look up articles; and then — "Go Thou and do likewise." An image should appear at this position in the text.
"Colored Lights in Window Display" paid me in rent (for the magazine) from a florist, two nights, four dollars
An image should appear at this position in the text.
A dye house paid a dollar for the idea of a "Facetious Dyers Sign
Rent, "Novel Window Attractions" . . . . . . 6.50 " "Magic Mirror" 5.50 " "Colored Lights" 4.00 Information, "Dyer's Sign" 1.00 Sale of " Ink Eraser" 1.25 Estimated Materiel and Labor. ... $10.00 Cost of magazines from from which articles were taken 75 $10.75 $33.25 10.75
Profit on Investment . . . . . . . . . $22.50 L. E. Fetter, 591 Middle St.,
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